Umile reaches special milestone

By Al Pike

apike@fosters.com

fosters.com

By Al Pike

apike@fosters.com

Posted Oct. 13, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Al Pike

apike@fosters.com

Posted Oct. 13, 2012 at 3:15 AM

DURHAM — Dick Umile would rather spend a month in Orono, Maine, than talk about himself.Ask him why he’s been so successful as head coach of the University of New Hampshire hockey team and he’ll say something like “It just means I’ve been around for a long time,” or “I’ve had good players.”Both of which are true, but his impact on the program goes much deeper than that. Just ask former Wildcat Andrew Leach, who worked his way from a spare forward who played only three games as a sophomore to a captain and valuable role player as a senior.“I loved him as a coach,” said Leach, who now coaches the St. Thomas Aquinas High School boys hockey team in Dover. “I went through a sophomore year where I didn’t play a lot, but I battled it out. He’s a players’ coach. He encouraged me and he likes guys who play hard. I wasn’t really a scorer at UNH, but he appreciated what I brought to the table. He rewarded me for my hard work and stuck with me. He helped me find a niche and a role, and that’s part of what’s made him so successful.”UNH’s victory Friday night over St. Cloud State was the 500th of Umile’s career, making him the eighth Division I coach in history to reach the milestone with the same program.He’s one of six active coaches with at least 500 wins and one of 15 all-time. Under Umile’s watch, which began in the 1990-91 season, UNH has become one of the most consistent and respected programs in the country.“It’s been a great experience,” former co-captain Damon Kipp said of playing for Umile. “He’s always had winning teams. He brings a great work ethic and intensity to each practice and the games. He tries to help players learn and grow and become better, and therefore the team becomes better.” The Wildcats have qualified for the NCAA tournament in 17 of the last 22 years, including 13 of the last 15.UNH has had just three losing seasons in the last 22 years. The Wildcats qualified for four Frozen Fours during one six-year stretch and reached the NCAA championship game twice.UNH has won at least 20 games in 18 of the last 23 seasons and as many as 30 twice. “It’s amazing the success that he’s had,” said Leach, whose uncle Steve Leach is a former Wildcat standout who went on to have a pro career in the NHL. “Not winning the big one is something everybody asks, but nobody knows how hard it is to get to that game, let alone win it.”Umile has led the Wildcats to eight Hockey East regular-season championships and two tournament titles.He was named national coach of the year in 1999. He’s also a six-time Hockey East coach of a year, winning the award as recently as 2010, and a four-time New England coach of the year.“I really feel like he’s so much different than any other coach,” said junior defenseman Justin Agosta. “He’s got a relationship with us. At the same time you don’t abuse it. You can have a good relationship with him where you can play around and joke, but at the same time you know not to cross the line. He’ll get into you.“I think it’s the perfect balance,” Agosta added.When Kipp first arrived at UNH from the Canadian province of British Columbia, it was a case of culture shock.“You come in and you don’t really know what to do with the Boston accent and stuff like that, especially me coming from BC,” Kipp said. “I didn’t understand him for a while. When you get to know him he keeps it fun and he keeps it relaxed when it needs to be relaxed and intense when it needs to be intense. I think he’s got a good grasp on the varying degrees.”Umile entered this season with a winning percentage of .638, which ranks seventh among active coaches, and a career record of 499-264-87.As a player at UNH, he had 60 goals and 144 points in just 87 career games, and captained the 1971-72 squad.The program’s tradition under Umile is part of its lure for potential recruits.“He’s really a players’ coach,” said former co-captain Mike Borisenok. “He really gets along with the players and has them buy into the system. Not only the system, but the team’s culture. He’s established that team culture from the top down. He treats you like a professional. He doesn’t sit there and micro-manage. You’re accountable for yourself.”